The Felds have been attending FAU football games since 2004 when their grandson Kris Bartels started playing for the Owls. Another grandson, Marcus Bartels, now plays for the Owls and is a starting safety.

The Felds, who are from Deerfield Beach, took advantage of the Select-A-Seat event at the $70 million, 30,000-seat stadium to get their first look inside.

After years of watching their grandsons play at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the Felds are glad the Owls have a new home.

"You can't even compare them, you don't want to say them in the same breath," Karen Feld said about the difference between Lockhart and the FAU Stadium.

After a sluggish start, tickets to the game have been selling well, according to Athletic Director Craig Angelos. As of Tuesday afternoon, fewer than 5,000 tickets remained, with the cheapest at $28.

Keith and Deborah McLaughlin of Coral Springs will be two of those in attendance, and they were giddy after seeing where they would be sitting — on the 50-yard line about a quarter of the way up in the home side stands, with the tiki bar right behind them.

"This is unbelievable," said Keith McLaughlin, whose wife suffers from brain seizures and is in a wheelchair. That hasn't stopped the McLaughlins from attending home and away FAU games since the program started in 2001.

"We have been to a lot of stadiums, and they retrofit for the disabled, but it never is easy. This is so easy, from the parking to the elevator, and the best part, a family bathroom right nearby," Keith McLaughlin said.

Keith McLaughlin was not just impressed by his seats.

"We were at Auburn, and Jordan-Hare looked like a high school stadium on steroids. This is like a two-seat Jaguar. It is just really neat. Without anybody in it, it feels like home," he said.

FAU is setting aside seats for 7,500 students, and the students checking out the stadium Tuesday said they expect that many to show up.

"Absolutely," said Shane Marinelli, a senior from Coconut Creek.

"It is really nice," said Ana Mese, a junior from Miami. Mese is a member of the Owlettes, a student organization that helps during recruiting by giving recruits tours of the campus.

Mese is in her first year at FAU, but heard from veteran Owlettes about Lockhart. "It's going to be great showing them around this stadium," she said.

Students get in free to the games with a valid Owl Card.

FAU players practiced on the field for the first time Tuesday as part of the event.

"It was a dream come true. The school is right here," said Xavier Stinson. "It is where we got to class, the dorms we lived in. We don't have to travel down to Fort Lauderdale for a game."